Kansas Klips
Lost hawk, used for education programs in Kansas, is found
SEDGWICK COUNTY—The Harlan Red-Tailed Hawk known as Harley Jr., used for educational programming that escaped his enclosure in early December, has been found but not captured yet. The Midwest Avian Foundation reported that they have eyes on Harley Jr. He is alive and well, and they will be retrieving him soon. He was last seen in a tree in the 8100 Block of Mount Vernon in Wichita. In the meantime, he is doing a great job of playing Houdini. (Hays Post)
Three teens survive violent crash
ALLEN COUNTY—Three teens were injured in an accident on Thursday, January 4th, in Allen County. According to the Allen County Sheriff, a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old was westbound on Hawaii Road five miles east of Humboldt at “a very high rateof speed” when the driver lost control at the intersection of 2200 Street, where the road changes from paved to gravel. The car skidded about 100 yards before going off the road and becoming airborne. The vehicle struck the top strand of a barbed wire fence, crashed into a pasture, then into a gate made of two-inch steel tubing and traveled approximately 80 more yards, flipped end over end multiple times, struck the top wire of another fence, and came to rest upright on all four tires. EMS transported the driver and two teen passengers to Allen County Regional Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The sheriff’s office is requesting charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, minor in consumption/possession of alcohol, and other traffic violations against the teen driver. The passengers are expected to face requested charges of minor in possession/consumption of alcohol, according to the sheriff. The sheriff’s office did not release the names of those involved. (Hays Post)
Liberal business forced to stop painting building pink can keep the color
LIBERAL—In 2023, the owners of Chikas Fresas purchased a building on Kansas Avenue in Liberal to expand their business. They received approval for their interior renovations but said that the city inspector told them they didn’t need any permits for the exterior. The owners decided to paint their building pink, the business’ signature color. Midway through the process, the City issued a correction notice to stop immediately with the color and all exterior renovations. Liberal’s zoning code requires color changes in the Kansas Avenue Overlay District to get approval from the zoning and planning commission, so it was up to the commission to decide the future of the building. Liberal Mayor Jose Lara said that the City didn’t follow a specific color scheme and decided to push for a repeal of the almost 20-year-old ordinance. The business was allowed to finish exterior renovations until the City’s planning and zoning commission came to a decision. When the zoning and planning commission met for a open work session to the public, they voted to approve the color. Mayor Lara says city commissioners will discuss the possibility of repealing the ordinance at their next meeting. (Newsbreak)
Kansas highlights efforts to end exploitation of Human Trafficking Awareness Day
TOPEKA—January 11th was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Julie Hart, the human trafficking education and outreach coordinator in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, visited Eye on NE Kansas to shed light on the issue and share how Kansas is fighting it. Hart also chairs the Human Trafficking Advisory Board. She said the Board and the KSAG’s office are collaborating with other state agencies to address concerns related to the issue. The three most common categories of the crime are sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and commercial child exploitation. Raising awareness of the signs is the first step for people to take to help end this problem. Victims can seek help through the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737888 or by texting *233733. Assistance, resources, and information can be found at humantraffickinghotline. org and ag.ks.gov/public-safety/human-trafficking. (Newsbreak)
Light pillars dazzle in the extreme NW Kansas cold
SHERMAN COUNTY—The cold weather provided the perfect conditions for a rare atmospheric optical phenomenon on Thursday, January 11th. The National Weather Service in Goodland shared a photo of light pillars seen from their headquarters at 920 Armory Road. Light pillars form when a bright light source reflects off the surfaces of millions of falling ice crystals associated with thin, high-level clouds, for example, cirrostratus clouds. On that Thursday in northwest Kansas, overnight temperatures were in the single digits, with wind chill temperatures well below zero. (Hays Post)
